Knee Board decisions

The Board has denied service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome in both upper extremities and bilateral knee disorders, finding no current diagnoses or causal links to service.

The Board has granted service connection for MRSA of the left knee as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been evaluated at a non-compensable (10%) rating since September 2, 2010. The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for the condition.

The Veteran's right knee disability was denied for increased ratings, with the exception of a temporary 10 percent rating from August 23, 2017 to March 3, 2020.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that an increased rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for his right knee ACL tear prior to October 15, 2019 and a rating in excess of 10 percent thereafter were denied. Service connection for a lower back disorder secondary to the service-connected right knee ACL tear was also denied.

The Veteran's left foot tailor's bunion was granted service connection. The remaining issues of right hip, left hip, right knee, and left knee conditions are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board denied a separate compensable evaluation for the current 10 percent rating for status post-injury to both knees, finding that there is no separate compensable knee impairment and range of motion has not been limited in either knee.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including dysthymic disorder, lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease, left and right hip strains, left and right knee strains, and corneal scar of the right eye, are found to be sufficient for a TDIU rating on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for left knee bruise residuals and has also granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis. The decision is based on the Veteran's competent and credible lay evidence of continuous symptoms since an in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability and his military service.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities were granted a 10% rating each, effective May 2, 2016. The disability is rated based on painful motion.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's left knee and low back disorders, as well as whether they are related to his service-connected right knee disability. The case will be remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee condition. The decision is pending on remand for further examination and opinion regarding his bilateral hip conditions.

The Veteran's increased ratings for left knee DJD post-operative meniscectomy and ACL repair, as well as instability, are denied. A separate rating of 10 percent is granted for symptomatic removal of cartilage.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for joint disabilities and headaches, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service or any service-connected disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and increased ratings for his right shoulder, left knee, and right knee disabilities. The evidence did not support granting these claims.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disability is granted. For the period on appeal prior to September 16, 2016, his bilateral pes planus was granted a 30% rating; from September 16, 2016 to January 28, 2018, he received a separate 30% rating. Beginning January 29, 2018, the Veteran's claim for increased ratings remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities did not begin during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,Similarly, the Board found that the Veteran's left and right shoulder disabilities did not begin during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.